Guns, tanks, and bombs
were the principal weapons
of World War II, but there
were other, more subtle,
forms of warfare as well.
Words, posters, and films
waged a constant battle
for the hearts and minds
of the American citizenry
just as surely as military
weapons engaged the
enemy.
Even before the U.S. was
officially at war ..
Politicians were preparing us ….
FDR made a speech to congress
in January, 1941.
He listed four
essential freedoms ...
“We look forward to a world
founded upon four essential
human freedoms.
The first is freedom of speech
and expression--everywhere in
the world.”
“The second is freedom of
every person to worship
God in his own way-everywhere in the world.”
“The third is freedom from want . . .
everywhere in the world.”
“The fourth is freedom
from fear . . .
anywhere in the world.”
As WWII heated up, Uncle
Sam did more than call for
“men at arms.”
Their civilian jobs had
to be filled.
Whether by
the perky
high school
sweetheart ..
Or by the
anxious
wife or
fiancee.
Poster and film images
glorified and glamorized the
roles of working women and
suggested that a woman's
femininity need not be
sacrificed.
Rosie the Riveter-the strong,
competent woman
dressed in overalls
and bandanna-was introduced as
a symbol of
patriotic
womanhood.
“Women’s
work” was
about to
change
forever.
“These jobs will have to be glorified as a
patriotic war service if American women are
to be persuaded to take them and stick to
them. Their importance to a nation engaged
in total war must be convincingly
presented.”
--Basic Program Plan for Womanpower
Office of War Information
In propaganda art,
“our side” was always
very attractive ..
and pure of heart
and
noble
During World War II,
the military employed
policies of racial
restriction and
segregation. At the
beginning of the war,
for example, blacks
could join the Navy
but could serve only as
messmen.
Doris ("Dorie") Miller joined
the Navy and was in service
on board the U.S.S. West
Virginia during the attack on
Pearl Harbor. Restricted to
the position of messman, he
received no gunnery training.
But during the attack, at great
personal risk, he manned the
weapon of a fallen gunman
and succeeded in hitting
Japanese planes.
He was
awarded
the Navy
Cross
Masculine strength was a
common visual theme in
patriotic posters. Pictures of
powerful men and mighty
machines illustrated
America's ability to channel
its formidable strength into
the war effort.
American
muscle was
presented in a
proud display of
national
confidence.
Our men
were strong,
muscular,
and had
rugged
good-looks.
We were
encouraged
toward
some
“worthy”
purpose.
A variety of devices
encouraged us to
“conserve.”
A little bit of
“guilt”..
or a lot
of guilt
We were
ashamed if
we
complained
We were
exhorted
to
produce
more ..
Although brutality is always
part of war, the atrocities of
World War II were so
terrible, and of such
magnitude, as to engender a
new category of crime-crimes against humanity.
Lidice was a
Czech mining
village that was
obliterated by
the Nazis in
retaliation for
the 1942
shooting of a
Nazi official by
two Czechs
All men of the village were killed in a
10-hour massacre; the women and
children were sent to concentration
camps. The destruction of Lidice
became a symbol for the brutality of
Nazi occupation during World War II.
Civilians must have the war brought home
to them. Every individual must be made to
see the immediacy of the danger to him. . . .
He must be made to understand that he is an
integral part of the war front, and that if he
loses the war, he loses everything.
Government Information Manual for the
Motion Picture Industry
Office of War Information
Note the
caricatured
features
and
expression
It was easy
to imagine
them
capable of
all sorts of
outrageous
acts
No one
would be
safe
Of course
our cause
was just,
because ..
“we’re on
God’s
side.”
The
enemy
was
presented
as godless
one who sows the seeds
of death and destruction
Words are ammunition. Each word an American
utters either helps or hurts the war effort. He must
stop rumors. He must challenge the cynic and the
appeaser. He must not speak recklessly. He must
remember that the enemy is listening.
--Government Information Manual for the
Motion Picture Industry
Office of War Information
“Loose
lips
sink
ships”
This Gold Star
was displayed by
families who had
lost someone in
the war.
The
viewer
was
to
A woman--someone
who could resemble
conclude
that
this
the viewer's neighbor,
sister, wife, or
woman's
careless
daughter--was shown
on a "wanted" poster
talk
resulted
in
the
as an unwitting
murderess.
death of American
soldiers.
Posters work!
Roadside signs,
magazine ads ..
Just posters.